Choose Granite Countertops Near Me Falmouth, MA for Elegance and Durability

Falmouth University, situated on the south coast of Cornwall, England, is a higher education institution specialising in the creative industries. It places a strong emphasis on sustainable practices across all areas, particularly their fashion, textiles and business programmes.

Its fashion-related degrees span design, marketing, photography, styling and art direction. Recent graduates include Beth Somerville, the 2023 winner of the New Designer of the Year Award in 2023 and Finlay Vincent, the recipient of Net-a-Porter’s Vanguard Education Fund 2022.

Falmouth University is developing a new generation of sustainable fashion practitioners through its two-year MA in Sustainable Fashion. The online part-time programme teaches students about the interconnected environmental, social and economic impact of the fashion industry. At the core of the programme is a mission to redefine the fashion system through a regenerative soil-to-soil lens — from textile crop to garment disposal — and to equip students with the tools to view fashion’s systemic challenges as opportunities for transformation and innovation.

The course takes a holistic approach to fashion, exploring concepts ranging from circular systems and de-growth economics to regenerative design. Its collaborative leadership framework enables participants to recognise the interdisciplinary potential of their work — all through a sustainability-focused lens.

The programme keeps students up-to-date with sustainability regulations, such as the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. This ensures graduates understand the policies increasingly shaping industry priorities and brings environmental compliance to the forefront of business strategy.

As the online MA in Sustainable Fashion opens applications for a new cohort beginning in autumn 2025, The Business of Fashion (BoF) sits down with course leader Tom Crisp to discuss how the programme aims to train the next generation of professionals focused on systemic innovation.

What distinguishes Falmouth University’s educational approach?

At Falmouth, we take a holistic approach to sustainable fashion. We consciously cultivate curious mindsets and want our students to lead the industry through planet-centred design practices that apply to local contexts.

We look at extending sustainable practice beyond product-based circular solutions to reimagine and rewire the fashion system towards sustainable practice.

For the MA in Sustainable Fashion, we give students free rein with the sustainable interventions they wish to explore and develop. We don’t dictate what sustainable solutions look like, but equip our students with the necessary tools to put systems-first decision-making into action — whether that is through land practices and regenerative agriculture, discussions with the community, or even AI-based solutions.

Why is now a pivotal time for students to consider the online MA in Sustainable Fashion?

Sustainability is one of those urgent areas that is not going away. Brands are facing pressure to transform textile supply chains through legislation and it is important for the industry to have professionals who understand this — and how it impacts consumer behaviour.

We are also seeing technological innovation that is causing increased interest in land-based, regenerative agricultural practices — and there is opportunity for new business, entrepreneurship and innovation within this space.

It is an optimal time for students to gain a skillset in this area, particularly as the industry looks towards transformation through sustainable initiatives — meaning there are many job opportunities once they’ve graduated.

What advantages does an online approach offer?

As a part-time, flexible course, students can enrol and complete the studies at their own pace — and on top of work they may already be doing.

Currently, we have people who run their own businesses and use the course to make sustainable change within their company. Others have used the course to become more entrepreneurial and suggest projects for their current employers. Meanwhile, some course graduates have used their final major projects to land roles in the industry, present at conferences and gain research funding to pursue and expand their projects further

We have students from across the globe in the course community, meaning there are perspectives from Venezuela to Vancouver to Vietnam — and each with their own stories from their local areas. It means that sustainability is not viewed from a Western perspective, but from an ever-evolving, global lens.

How can prospective students impress in their applications?

We are looking for students who want to drive meaningful change, that want to build transformational projects that will lead us towards a much more sustainable future — regardless of whether fashion is in your background.

If you are someone who actively questions existing methods and assumptions, and is looking towards a holistic understanding of how the fashion system operates, this is the course for you. And, because we have so many different approaches to sustainability, it is an opportunity for you to consider the interconnectedness of the environment with social and economic drivers in mind.

Currently, we have students who come from environmental science backgrounds, practising journalists and other business professionals. It is a melting pot of talent, meaning there are lots of ideas being generated from the diverse, international cohort on the course.

How does Falmouth University prepare its students for the evolving needs of the industry?

The course is systems-focused, meaning students get a grasp on how sustainability operates across the entire fashion lifecycle. The programme encourages students to really think about where to make the most change and what positive impact such changes have on the planet.

Students will gain an understanding of the complex and multi-layered approaches of bringing sustainability practices into businesses. We have the resources to help demystify some of the most challenging issues of the industry, and provide the tools for thinking about how emerging technologies, like AI, can be applied as solutions to production and other steps of the manufacturing phase.

We also view sustainability on different levels. We think about how local issues reflect more global problems — and how global problems can affect local communities. We cater practices to the needs of each student, meaning if there is one particular area you are really interested in studying, we can ensure you have the opportunity to get a thorough understanding of it through your time on the course.

This is a sponsored feature paid for by Falmouth University as part of a BoF partnership.

Artwork by Nancy Duffany and Patrick Laughead will be displayed at The Gallery at FCTV through August 29^th. Stop in and browse. Find a Cape Cod momento.

“Envision Being There…” takes you to the places we cherish and dream of, whether we’ve walked their paths or only imagined them in our wildest dreams!

Nancy is a self-taught artist and lifelong creator, adept in various mediums. She currently channels her artistic energy into mixed media techniques, collage, and acrylics, resulting in a fusion of representational and abstract styles. Her focus revolves around animals and nature while incorporating elements from the natural surroundings, such as sticks, stones, leaves, and grasses. It reflects her passion for reusing and repurposing unusual, textural, and found materials. For Duffany, art serves to de-stress, allowing her to focus on her imagination and momentarily escape the challenges of everyday life. In the words of Vincent Van Gogh, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

Being self-taught as well, Patrick relishes the challenge of conveying his perceptions and reflections of the world around him or “his mind’s eye” onto the canvas. People comment on his animal’s lifelike eyes, attention to detail, and bright colors. He has been known to paint a statement or animal advocacy painting when he feels his insight might present an opportunity for thought, i.e., Ocean Pollution, Climate Change.

Patrick’s artworks have been displayed at venues such as the Falmouth Harbor Art Fair, Falmouth, and Cape Cod Art Centers, Barnstable Town Hall, Falmouth Rotary Art Fair, Falmouth Street Fair, Coffee Obsession in Falmouth, Bagel Haven in Mashpee, Florida Big Pine Key Art Festival, and The Gallery at FCTV. You can contact Patrick at his gallery at 807 Old Barnstable Road and Ashton Avenue in East Falmouth-just follow the signs. Or on Facebook: Patrick’s Acrylics of Cape Cod or by phone: 508-648-0075.

The Gallery at FCTV is located within the Falmouth Community Media Center, which is at 310E Dillingham Ave., easily accessible by Rose Morin Lane. FCTV and Gallery

Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu: 10-8pm, Fri: 10am-6pm. Sat: Closed, Sun: 12-8pm.

FALMOUTH, MASS. (WHDH) - Falmouth health officials say an older person with an open wound ventured into the ocean and came in contact with a flesh eating bacteria.

“This happened in, I believe, late July, and it takes time for the epidemiologist to treat the patient,” said Scott McGann. “The epidemiology has to occur. There’s a delay to figure out what’s going on.”

At Old Silver Beach, where the patient came in contact with the bacteria, people in the area say they’re aware of the danger.

“We were just playing football a little while ago,” Matthew Godin said. “Throwing the ball around, not to worried about the disease out there.”

There’s no word on how the patient is doing. The bacteria occurs naturally in the water.

Health officials say it’s extremely rare. Most people won’t get it.

“It’s mostly a problem for individuals who are susceptible because they have underlying liver disease or other kinds of immunocompromise ,” Dr. Larry Madoff said, Medical Director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The CDC says infections are usually caused by salt water contact with an open wound. There are 150-200 cases annually, and roughly 20% prove to be fatal.

Over the years the bacteria has been more common on the Gulf Coast. There have been dozens of cases reported in Florida and Louisiana this year, with nine fatalities.

People can also get the bacteria by eating undercooked shellfish, but experts say that’s less likely.

The beaches in Falmouth are open for business. Most were unaware of the possible danger. One woman said she would’ve liked to see an alert.

“We looked up sharks, but we did not look up flesh-eating bacteria,” Sandy Bordeau said, who is visiting from Rochester, New York. “Would’ve been nice to know what we were getting into, just in case we did have a cut.”

“We’ve been debating as a group, but no, I think we’re gonna go in,” Peter Maroney said, of Salem. “We don’t have any open cuts.”

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Health officials are warning people with certain health issues not to swim in Massachusetts coastal waters or eat raw shellfish. This comes after one person contracted a flesh-eating bacteria known as Vibrio vulnificus after swimming at a Falmouth beach last week.

At the same time, experts say the bacteria is unlikely to cause illness in generally healthy people.

“It’s a particular risk to those who have underlying medical conditions, such as liver disease, [or are] immunocompromised from drugs or cancer. Even diabetes can increase the risk of this infection,” said Dr. Larry Madoff, medical director for infectious disease at the state Department of Public Health.

People can get infected through an open cut or wound, Madoff said — including a recent piercing or tattoo. They can also be infected by ingesting raw or undercooked shellfish that pick up the bacteria.

Still, infectious disease experts say healthy people who don’t have complicating factors don’t need to be too worried.

“The typical person who’s healthy, whose skin is intact, has really no reason to be concerned,” said Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, who heads the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “And the typical person wouldn’t have to be concerned about eating clams and oysters, for example.”

For those who are infected, though, the bacteria can progress quickly and prove deadly.

“The reality is that it spreads so quickly and many people don’t get to care quickly enough to prevent the severe consequences, including amputation [and] severe sepsis,” said Dr. Shira Doron, chief infection control officer at Tufts Medicine Health System. She said it’s good for people to be on the alert, because if doctors catch the infection quickly and prescribe treatment, they can prevent the worst outcomes.

The exposure happened at Old Silver Beach in Falmouth. The Department of Public Health did not disclose the condition of the infected patient. The town notes that there is no advisory or closure in effect for the beach.

“Cape Cod’s beaches are an important part of our economy, culture, and community,” Scott McGann, health agent for the town of Falmouth, said in a written statement. “By taking a few simple precautions, residents and visitors, and particularly anyone who is vulnerable or immunocompromised, can continue to enjoy them safely.”

While Vibrio vulnificus infections are rare in Massachusetts, they’re not unheard of. According to the state’s public health department, there have been seven confirmed cases among Massachusetts residents in the last two years. Of those, three patients likely were infected in other states and four were likely exposed in Massachusetts.

And many agree the bacteria could become more common in the Northeast. Madoff noted that historically, it used to be found further south in Gulf Coast states.

“Increasingly it seems to have moved north,” he said. “So I do think it’s associated with warming waters.”

Massachusetts has already had several heat waves this summer, contributing to warmer-than-usual water temperatures. And Doron notes that as the climate continues to warm, the bacteria could become more common in Massachusetts.

“That is not necessarily an epidemiologic phenomenon that we are already seeing, but it is something that we have to be watchful for,” she said. “And we are seeing that with other diseases, specifically mosquito-borne diseases, like way more dengue virus in the United States than we typically see in the past.”

And just like mosquitoes, creatures like ticks and microorganisms like Vibrio vulnificus are making their way up to New England.

“This is another example of the kinds of health consequences, particularly infectious disease-related consequences, that we can see as a consequence of environmental change,” Kuritzkes said.

Health officials in Massachusetts are warning the public about a potentially deadly bacteria in coastal waters after a person was infected.

The state’s Department of Public Health issued a warning Wednesday about Vibrio bacteria following what it called "an extremely rare case" of Vibrio vulnificus infection. Officials said the person was most likely exposed to it while at a beach on Buzzards Bay.

"Vibrio bacteria normally live in warm, salt or brackish waters along the Atlantic coast," Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said in a statement. "Heat waves and above-average water surface temperatures create favorable conditions for Vibrio bacteria to grow, making May through October generally the peak season for these bacteria."

About a dozen species of Vibrio can cause illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of an infection include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills.

Some Vibrio infections can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, or “flesh-eating disease,” the CDC said.

Deaths from "flesh-eating" bacteria have been on the rise in some Southeastern states, including Florida and Louisiana.

Goldstein said people with open wounds and those who eat contaminated shellfish can develop an infection. Sometimes, the infection can spread through the bloodstream and cause severe or life-threatening illness, he said.

According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection die.

In the last several years, there have been only seven confirmed cases of the infection among Massachusetts residents. Four were most likely exposed to Vibrio vulnificus in Massachusetts, the health department said.

Minyvonne Burke

Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News.

Madison Lambert contributed.